West Virginia Metro News, Morgantown Dominion-Post - The Senate Finance Committee approved a stretched-out, slowed-down version of the bill to reduce the severance tax on steam coal from 5 percent to 3 percent. Read full article. The committee also approved one of the two House bills aimed at gathering money to cap orphaned oil and gas…
WVCBP in the News
Wall Street Journal - A soup kitchen downtown in the state’s capital city has been busier than usual in recent months, while a nearby health clinic is serving 12,000 more patients, many of whom are juggling multiple low-wage jobs, than it served five years ago. Read article. Despite the emergence of some new small businesses on…
West Virginia Public Broadcasting - The West Virginia House passed a bill Wednesday that would reduce the severance tax paid on coal burned for electricity. Read/Listen. House Bill 3142 passed on an 88-11 vote after contentious debate on the floor. Long sought by industry, the legislation would reduce the severance tax paid by coal companies on…
West Virginia Public News Service - Critics of a proposal rushing through the House of Delegates say it could blow a hole in West Virginia's state budget by using one-time money to pay for permanent tax cuts that mostly help those who are well off. Read full article. House Bill 3137 would create a fund where…
Huntington Herald-Dispatch - It has been almost two years since Gov. Jim Justice signed West Virginia's medical cannabis law. Read full op-ed. Then why do we not have medical marijuana available in West Virginia? It's available across the Ohio River in Ohio. The West Virginia Legislature and state government officials are dragging their feet? Why? After…
Southerly Magazine - In early February, Martin County, Kentucky Sheriff John Kirk took to Facebook to announce that his office was unable to continue providing law enforcement, warning residents to protect themselves instead. Read. “I have had to operate the last little bit with just myself and one other paid deputy. There are volunteers that help…
WTAP-TV - An expert on budget and policy comes to Parkersburg to talk about whether West Virginia's economy is rebounding after the Great Recession. Watch. Ted Boettner is the executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. He came to the Parkersburg City Building Monday night to talk about West Virginia's economic outlook.…
WV Metro News - A bill in the House of Delegates that would result in work requirements for people on Medicaid has sparked much debate. Read full article. Groups in the state are coming out against HB 3136, that originated in the House Finance Committee last week. “It will cost us millions in administrative costs,” Kat…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - The House of Delegates is set to vote on a bill that would require Medicaid recipients to work, train, volunteer or — as amended Monday evening — attend drug treatment for 20 hours a week in order to keep their health care coverage. Read full article. House Bill 3136 is scheduled for third…
Charleston Gazette-Mail - Poor West Virginians who get health care coverage through Medicaid would have to work, volunteer or train for a job under a bill that originated and advanced in the House Finance Committee on Wednesday. Read full article. With a 14-9 vote, the committee advanced the bill to the full House of Delegates for…